Button



March 11 l; 11,486,41-5Il J, E. POTTER BUTTON Filed June 15 1 923 g w a I @famms' EPaZZer I Patented Mar. 11, 1924.

l lti th l it? ILA 0 JAMES E. POTTER, OF PROVIDENCE, BLT-103E ISLAND.

BUTTON.

Application filed June 15, 1823.

T0 aZZ whom it may OOIICGWZ-f Be it known that 1, JAMES E. POTTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buttons, of which the following is a speci fication.

This invention relates to. an improved construction of button more particularly for.

use as a temporary button for holding the collar band and soft cuils ot a freshly laundered or new shirt. but the same may be used for any other purpose for which it is adapted, and is an improvement on my prior Patent No. 1,425,131, patented August 8, 1922.

The object of my present invention is to provide a button of this character which is formed by folding sheet metal stock to provide a base portion, a shank portion and a head portion, all from a single strip of metal and to provide a stiffened construction oibutton to prevent the same from bending.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustratingmy improved iiorm of button. I

Figure 2 is aview of the strip or" a length of sheet stock extended and from which the button is formed, and showing the outwardly-swaged cup-shaped portions at the ends which when folded together form the head 01" a button; also showing the outwardly-swaged stiffening ribs "for the shank portions and the base.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 33 oi Figure 2.

Figure is a view showing a strip as partially bent to form my improved construction of button.

Figure 5 is a greatly enlarged side elevation partly in section illustrating the cooperating ribs in the shank and base portion arranged to stiffen the shank portions particularly at their junction with their base portions.

My improved sheet metal button formed automatically by fast running ma chines, from a strip of metal which is fed thereint-o, and in order to facilitate rapid Serial No. 645,801.

which are called upon to withstand the greats strain that the buttons may be made of stock of the minimum thickness; and the following a detailed des'ription of one construction of button formed with stiffened portions to accomplish the purpose oithis invention.

My improved button is formed from a strip of sheet stock. preferably sheet metal, which cut into length as at 10, and at the opposite ends of this strip the stock is swaged from the inner face of the strip outwardly into cup-shape as at 11 providing halves of a head having substantially square shoulders 12 on the under side there of and tapering from the shoulder towards the ends of the stock.

But I do not wish to be restricted to forming a head of this particular shape as heads of other shapes may be formal ii desired in addition to swaginfl portiois of the stock eutwardl to form the hear. portions I also are portions of the stock outwardl as at 7 Forming stiffening. supporting ribs along the sides of the sha )l: portions and I also form cooperating ribs 19 in the upper fold the base plate whereby the end portions of both these ribs 1'? and 19 abut at the line 20 of junction between the standards and the base plate to materially stiffen the standards along their length and at the junction line; also the rib portion 1'? serves to stiffen the head on its line of junction with the sandard.

This strip after having been so formed is folded upon itself as at 13 forming: a base 14 of a double thickness also forming the shank portion 15 of a double thickness and the enlarged end portions the shank when brought tog ther cooperate to form a hollow head portion 143 having laterally-em tending shoulders 12 on its under side and tapering toward: outer end Forming a button-head l h somewhat pointed to facilitate passing the head through buttonholes.

By my improved construction the shank portion 01" the button is substantially rec tangular in cross section having" flat side walls whereby the button is preventec 12 extend laterally from the side faces of the shank to engage the fabric about the buttonhole and so effectually prevent the button from dropping outwhich is the usual fault or trouble with such temporary buttons or holders.

It will be noted that by swa e ing, this stock out from the central plane between the shank portions, 1 have provided ribs or stiffening portions which extend from the head to the base portion in the shank. which ribs materially stitten these members and prevent the shank from bending along its length or at its line of junction with the head when the button is subjected to severe, lateral strains, and in abutting against the rib 19 in the base it serves to materially stiffen the standard at its tolding point where it joins the base; also in some cases a rib i8 is formed in the base portion, which. by projecting inwardly, caused to extend into the crease or reress between the shank portions at the base thereof practically closing this space which would otherwise stand slightly open.

The device is extremely simple and practical and is so inexpensive in construction that it will replace the ordinary wooden button or other fastener now employed tor this purpose as my improved button may be constructed from a strip of sheet stock and folded into finished shape all in a single operation by folding the stock upon itself and owing to its double torination. it may he made of extremely thin material and still be of ample strength and stitlnee-s tor the purpose required.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated but I desire it to be understood that l reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims. I

I claim:

l. A button formed of sheet stock folded to provide base and shank portions of double thickness, the free ends of the shank portions being enlarged to provide a hollow head. and a longitudinally-disposed stiffening rib in each of the shank portions abutting said base portion to assist in rigidly supporting the shank and base portion in substantially perpendicular relation.

2, A button formed of sheet stock folded to provide base and shank portions of double thickness, the free ends oi? the shank por-. tions being enlarged providingbetween them a hollow head, and cooperating stitiening ribs in said base portion abutting said shank portion to assist in supporting said shank portions at the junction with their base portions.

t. button formed of sheet stock folded to provide base and shank portions of double thickness. the tree ends of the shank portions-t being enlarged providing between them a hollow head. and cooperating abutting stiffeningribs formed in both the shank and base portions serving to assist to rigidly maintain the substantially perpendicular relation between said shank and base portions.

l. A button formedot sheet stock folded to provide base and shank portions of double thickness, the free ends of the shank portions beingenlarged providing between them a hollow head, and a central stiffening rib in said base portion and said shank portion having an inwardly-extend ing told at the junction between said shank and base portions whereby the shank is supported in substantially perpendicular relation to the base.

in testimony whereof I altix my signature.

JAMES E. POTTER. 

